Counseling for Teens
In Texas
They just don’t seem like themselves.
They give you the shrug, the straight face, the mumble under their breath, and retreat to their room…or as you have been calling it, “the dungeon”, for the rest of the evening.
It feels like you have no idea what’s going on in their life, what they’re feeling, who they talk to, or what they think about.
But what you do know, and what you are sure of - they are struggling. Hard.
You see it in their grades (hence the 92 emails from teachers). You see it in their body language (you didn’t know someone could make no eye contact and zone out for that long).
You see it in their use of headphones (as you go through baby pictures just to make sure they weren’t born with them in their ears).
And you see it in their face. They just don’t have that life, that spark, that happiness that they used to.
You’ve tried talking to them, tried to encourage counseling…and you even asked if they just wanted a day to hang with you (they hard-noped right out of that one, I mean what teen wants to hang with their parent or guardian right?).
And it’s become so hard to feel lost, hopeless, and scared as you try and figure out how to help them.
You sense the “parental influence window” closing a bit each day.
You’re worried and lost on what to do next and feeling alone in it all…just sucks.
Their own cheerleader and coach.
But you don’t have to feel alone in it all. And you get to have a tool in your tool belt that you didn’t see coming (...a little corny, but let's roll with it).
In therapy, they will get a heavy dose of focusing on what they are doing well, their strengths, and how to build on these so they can start feeling confident in who they are.
They will start to be their own sort of cheerleader and coach, by developing internal validation, instead of needing that so much from others.
And this coaching of themselves is going to be so helpful in the challenges that have happened in the present, the now, and the future.
You get to finally see your teen feeling more at ease, seeing their grades go up, hanging out with a friend or two, and maybe even talking to you while making some eye contact (act cool, act cool!)
And maybe even the time they spend in their room is shaved off by an hour?! (I mean you can’t expect more than that, they are a teenager after all and I’m not a wizard).
Making their way back to you.
That tool is therapy with me. Why me?
Well not only do I have seven children (four of which are toddler quadruplets) and know the inside feelings of being a parent and guardian, but I also feel like I can tap into that teenager part of me easily, and feel young at heart.
I know what is going on in your teen’s head, what they’re thinking about and why.
And I have the know-how for just getting them, and being that place where they can feel free and not judged to lay it all out there.
I can speak their language (I may need to Google a few slang words here and there) and be that confidant for them.
Which means you know they’re sharing with someone who’s not only an expert in helping them heal…
…but someone who can relate and be human with them. And truly connect with them.
So that happy, twinkle-in-their-eye, pep in their step, teen can make their way back to you.
